For over five years, Utah Valley area high school students have been invited to the Brigham Young University Microscopy Lab to conduct individual and group research projects. This outreach program provides each student with concrete, “hands-on” experience in the field of microscopy and an application of the scientific principles learned in the high school classroom. The program utilizes the expertise of university faculty, lab personnel, undergraduate research assistants, corporate professionals and public school teachers as well as microscopy facilities and equipment (Fig. 1). These elements combine in an effort to mold confident and experienced young professionals. The outreach program has produced students who have published, won contests, earned scholarships and found employment opportunities within the field. However, the program has only been able to serve a limited number of students who want to participate. With the aid of developing technology and the distributed learning model, the influence of electron microscopy can be spread more effectively.The study of microscopy including several related subjects is now more accessible through the creation of a World Wide Web site at Brigham Young University (BYU). Users can select from a variety of menus including a Library, Teaching Center, Learning Center, and Explore Your Mini- Worlds. Student research images have been collected and downloaded through the use of computerized imaging and microscopy (Fig. 2).
Summer Engineering Outreach Program for High School Students: Survey and Analysis